TTC through Donor IUI or Donor IVF - weight loss spin-off thread

[witchmountain]

A few of us on the donor IUI/IVF thread have got some weight to lose, and rather than bore everyone else we thought we'd set up a spin-off thread. So, if you're doing or contemplating donor IUI/IVF and also have some weight to lose, join us here, newbies welcome.

I guess we do introductions/goals? I'll start, but obviously share whatever you prefer in your intro.

I'm witch, froze some embryos last year with donor sperm which are waiting for me to save up enough to fund a career change post baby. I'm fortunate in that I don't have loads and loads of weight to lose, but enough that I could so with some supportive friends to do it with.

I don't really like the idea of dieting per se, I think my aim is more around establishing a healthier relationship with food. I read Fat is a Feminist Issue years ago and I probably need to re-read it again now - it's about women's relationship with food. I'd recommend it, or a much condensed book by the same author, Susie Orbach, called On Eating.

My weight has fluctuated over the years, but the band it's fluctuating within is only trending in one direction. This is almost the heaviest I've ever been, I'm too fat for my fat clothes, and my thighs are getting in the way of each other. In BMI terms I'm a little way into the overweight category, but I carry it all on my stomach so I'm quite a way over the recommended maximum waist measurement. I have been offered a seat on the tube and on one occasion asked if it was my first baby

The numbers aren't the be all and end all - for me that point is that I am at this weight because I don't prioritise sleep and activity and compensate with carbs and caffeine! And for some other more psychological reasons which I'll get to, but this is already the longest intro in history.

I'm going to take Saturday as my starting point:
5'9"/1.75m
12st10.5lb/81kg
BMI 26.4
Waist 36"/91cm
Targets, let's see, but I'm guessing somewhere south of 11st/70kg - I'll head in that direction and see how I feel. I'll never be right at the bottom end of the BMI range, I'm broad!

Eating wise - I'm cutting back on high glycemic index carbs and trying to get some more protein in. I know I feel better and less hungry when I'm not struggling from one sugar rush then crash to the next.

Whoop whoop so proud!!!

Was super bad the last couple of weeks but back on it this week. Managed to avoid much weight gain so at least not back at square 1. @kwick how is SW going?

Oh bloody hell.

Really struggling to decide between clinics... Quite a big factor is whether or not they take BMI into consideration.
The Priory in Birmingham doesn't, and is cheaper than CARE, but CARE is local. CARE want me to lose around a stone before I even have an antral follicle count, but for some reason, I've been trying for three weeks this time round and lost nothing. Nada. Zilch. I've actually put on half a pound. In three weeks 😩

So the ultimate battle is; do I carry on (unsuccessfully) trying to lose weight to stay at a more expensive, local clinic, or do I go to a clinic that's an hour away (an hour and a half - two hours in rush hour) but is cheaper and doesn't count BMI as being an issue?

Plus... If I go to The Priory, it means I can have my consult much sooner than August/September - it means I can have it this month (possibly) and start treatment in August/September...

For the one that's further away can you do scans and bloods locally?

@Bear1980 I have SW weigh in tonight... I did try and keep it up on hols but had a fee days with 30-40 syns....

@CautionHormone I hate the BMI criteria thing... have you tried SW - may give you a boost? Sometimes just a shift in the way you are eating can do that.

So just to own up to my stats so hopefully I can lose some weight before next try
73kg this morning-should be somewhere around 60kg for my height!
Starting my fitness pal (again) today. Went food shopping yesterday so have lots of things to eat. No excuses
Had gu cheesecake (x2) yesterday and a mojito 😂 so now to be good

You can do it @pickle162 !!!!

Haha @pickle162 that sounds good and now you can get back on it. I have been good this last week and lost another kilo. Its not fast but I am happy as long as its going in the right direction. Have reduced my BMI from almost 40 to 37.5 since February so just going to keep on going. My initial plan is to get below 35 athough hopefully will get bfp before I reach that 🤞🏻

@kwick you have to have a bit of freedom on holiday. I don't think it does you any good to be super strict 100% of the time

Ahh @Bear1980 that's fab, 1kg is fab as a healthy 2.2lbs and more likely to stay off that way!
Good luck everyone :)

My dinner for tonight 😇

How'd you get on at SW @kwick?

OMG @pickle162 so so so hungry now!!

I did not lose nor did I gain. Onwards and upwards and all that.

Going home to pack - very early start for me in the morning...

Wow that's fab tho @kwick to maintain whilst on holiday is a massive achievement!!! Just keep focusing and sure weight will resume coming off again.
I've gone to bed, can't eat when asleep is my view. Need to just get in habit of not binge eating/snacking all the time

Been a bit absent as had a few weeks where I just had way to much on and my eating went completely up the creek.

My task this week is to notice when I'm full and THEN STOP BLOODY EATING!!

I agree with Pickle, managing a holiday without gaining weight is an achievement.

Caution, when I saw people mentioning BMI on our other thread and heard of the NHS using it as a criteria too I looked into it, assuming that it really increased problems for conceiving, but I don't remember finding much evidence that it does. Would be interested to hear clinics justify it (other than in relation to sedation during egg collection, but we know you are the Champion Survivor of General Anaesthetics )

My clinic won't treat above bmi 40 but they said that the limit is about your health during pregnancy more than anything else. Would be interested to hear what other clinics say

Kwick, the BMI criteria is a ballache! There's plenty of women bigger than us who fall, carry and deliver with no problems at all...
I have thought about SW - not sure if it'll be something im able to follow seeing as I'm such a fussy eater... Though there is probably recipes and stuff would be able to eat. I'll see if I can sign up online!
Well done for maintaining on holiday - that's an amazing achievement; usually on holidays for me everything goes out the window, but you obviously had more self control

Witch, I think I'll have to have a little look myself, too (not that I disbelieve you, but so I can arm myself with information if my clinic does berate me for being a bit over the 35 limit!)
I agree, hearing clinics justify it would be interesting, but I guess it's like Bear said; it's not about falling, it's about the carrying...
I love that - Champion Survivor of General Anaesthetics. Should definitely be my new nickname

Thanks for words of encouragement ladies  now I need to be very good for the next week whilst I am in hotels - so for example the hamburger I had last night with onion rings was not ideal... but I had been good up until then so was able to syn.

@CautionHormone SW does work online but I highly recommend you join a group - that "group therapy" is really helping me this time. I do not think being a fussy eater will be an issue - especially if you are ok with fruit?

After 2 unexplained MCs being able to carry is key for me now. Also I have other health issues (calves, knees, feet) which probs come from being a piggywiggy.

The thing is with a higher bmi you are at risk of more complications-gestational diabetes being one of them.
I know it's annoying trying to meet with certain criteria but it's ultimately for your own health. Like for any operation for things like heart /knees/hips etc you'd be encouraged to be under a certain weight. Even if we had the dude our Gp/midwives would be encouraging weight loss for a healthier baby. If you think most people put on 1-3stone when pregnant if we are already overweight that extra weight is going to put more pressure on our joints and our organs so take it all as positive steps towards healthy you and healthy baby 👶🏻 (sorry went into clinician mode)

This is helpful pickle - I have known for a while that I needed to lose weight- this is the shove that has got me going

Didn't want it to come over to preachy as I am in no way at a healthy weight

I'm heading into my 4th day on MyFitnessPal and have stuck to my calories everyday, trousers feeling better already. I'm having a girlie night at a friends on Saturday where copious amounts of food and alcohol likely to be consumed (well alcohol I may struggle to have much as I've not drank in so long) it'll be so nice , especially after the support counsellor session earlier in the day but I do hate it when u start getting on track and then u book these things that involve yum food and alcohol
I will enjoy tho and then back on the wagon the next day...hopefully. 3weeks till baseline scan and would like to have lost about 7lbs from when I started -Pma :)

How's everyone getting on?

Kwick once in a while doesn't hurt anyone!!
I'm fine with fruit - I love fruit - it's just vegetables I struggle with, which is probably the worse of the two to be estranged with because you need veg to make healthier/more filling meals!
You're right about the group thing though... Makes you more encouraged. I'll have to look into it!
Most of my weight has come from medication (I know it has because I put on 3.5 stone within 4 months of starting the medication, and haven't changed [bar losing that weight in March] for years)... I don't eat bad, but perhaps the wrong time of day.

Pickle I totally get and understand everything you're saying. Weight is directly linked to unhealthier pregnancies, and of course, everyone wants a healthy baby.
It's not that I'm not trying, because I am, but this time round it's not shifting and I don't know what I can do to help it
Sounds like you've got everything planned out weight-wise :) glad your trousers are feeling better and have a great time Saturday!

Good on you pickle!!! That is great progress!

caution I am not so great with veg either - ie do not mind eating but will not normally prep at home much (usual fav is runner beans in microwave - out of plastic bag though to avoid toxins).

I have beeb relatively good this week.. like today I starred longingly at a cinnamon roll and then ate an apple

Been not beeb!